Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has expressed support for the arrest of Telegram founder Pavel Durov, drawing parallels to his own repressive measures against peaceful protesters in Belarus. Lukashenko stated that “if you’re guilty, you must answer for it,” praising the French authorities for their actions and suggesting that they are justified in defending themselves using similar methods to those employed by his regime in Belarus.
Lukashenko also criticized French President Emmanuel Macron for previously condemning him over human rights violations and the imprisonment of over a thousand political dissidents in Belarus, pointing out the irony in Macron’s criticism given the harsh suppression of the “yellow vest” protests in France. According to Lukashenko, France’s actions mirror those of Belarus but are carried out under the guise of “democratic values.”